As of 1958, how many countries existed in the French Equatorial Africa, or the AEF?

French Equatorial Africa, or the AEF, was the federation of French colonial possessions in Equatorial Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River into the Sahel, and comprising what are today the countries of Chad, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and Gabon.

Established in 1911, the Federation contained four (later five) colonial possessions: French Gabon, French Congo, Oubangui-Chari and French Chad. Following World War I, French Cameroon was added, although it was not organized as a separate entity until 1920.

In 1911, France ceded parts of the territory to German Kamerun as a result of the Agadir Crisis. The territory was returned after Germany's defeat in World War I.

During World War II, the federation rallied to the Free French Forces under Félix Éboué in August 1940, except for Gabon which was Vichy French until 12 November 1940, when the Vichy administration surrendered to invading Free French; the federation became the strategic centre of Free French activities in Africa.

Under the Fourth Republic (1946–58), the federation was represented in the French parliament. When the territories voted in the September 1958 referendum to become autonomous within the French Community, the federation was dissolved. In 1959 the new republics formed an interim association called the Union of Central African Republics, before becoming fully independent in August 1960.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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16 Comments

Jhan Schmitz

Encyclopedia Britannica says that the AEF consisted of four territories: "French Equatorial Africa, French Afrique Équatoriale Française (AEF), collectively, four French territories in central Africa from 1910 to 1959." While these four eventually became five countries, this was after 1958.

Judy Wilson

I found the question misleading because it clearly states..as of 1958, how many countries were in the AEF and there were only 4, later it was 5 but not in 1958

skullfire

4 is the correct answer according to all of the sources I have researched, including your own reference. This question should be removed.

mikemerr

Wrong answer, 4 is the correct answer: https://www.britannica.com/place/French-Equatorial-Africa

Alec Boreham

Up to 1958 or after 1958, stating this right affects the answer, 4 or 5!!!!!

Jana Thornton

At school in France, we learned 5.

Pierre Poirier

Every sources i consuly says 4

Richard G. Gomsrud

O is the correct answer. None of the possessions existed as independent countries until after 1958. When the countries became independent the AEF ceased to exist

David Colloby

Man alive I Guessed five, but it seems everyone's sure the answers four

MohamedLarbi Bouabdallah

You are WRONG ! 4 is the wright answer. Cameroon was not part of AEF !

John McLardie

Every reference I can find states that Cameroon was not part of French Equatorial Africa. It was a League of Nations Mandate that was never incorporated into the FEA. The correct answer should, in my opinion, be 4.